Organic material handling system storage module

ABSTRACT

A storage module is provided for an organic material handling system. The storage module has a levelling component for levelling out the organic material stored therein, and a removal component for discharging the organic material. A modular system and method is described for improving the receiving, processing, storing, and transloading of bulk materials such as organic waste. A system includes at least a receiving module to receive material, a storage module, a discharge module, and a control system. Systems can be adapted with additional modules, such as processing modules and transfer modules, depending on the site and materials to be handled. A control system interfaces with the modular components and local operators, and provides remote reporting and monitoring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is the first application filed for the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of bulk material handlingand processing, and in particular to a managed system for bulk materialreceiving, processing, storage and loading. Storage aspects of thesystem are a particular focus.

BACKGROUND

Organic waste streams make up a significant percentage of the garbagesent to landfills, generating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing thelifespan of the landfills. One such waste stream is municipal organicwaste, for example generated by households and collected by amunicipality. Diverting municipal organics from the waste stream andconverting them to compost fertilizer or soil is an environmentallysustainable way to manage these organics. This diversion and thesubsequent production of Class A compost reduces waste-stream volume andimpact by recycling the materials for beneficial use. Composts made frommunicipal organics are safe, socially responsible, and environmentallysound, and are used around the world to reclaim disturbed areas, developland, and improve nutrient-deficient soil.

With municipalities increasingly making climate commitments andimplementing policies and programs to achieve zero-waste outcomes,customized and turnkey residuals management solutions to residualsproducers and users are needed. Using a system that efficiently managesorganic waste, companies can help customers meet their waste-reductionand circular-economy goals and commitments, handling multiple residualsstreams to produce beneficial end-use products for reclamation,horticulture, and agriculture. The system becomes part of a servicesolution for the provision of site management, loading, transportation,and processing organic materials received in various locations.

Current systems to capture this organic waste typically consist of thewaste being collected by curbside trucks, brought to a site, and dumpedon the ground and pushed into a storage pile or bunker. Next, afront-end loader or similar is used to load the waste into a trailer.The waste is then dumped at a composting facility, where it is againhandled by equipment into a processor to shred or otherwise prepare thematerial for composting. It is finally handled once more by equipment toplace it into windrows where the active composting takes place.

These existing systems have several potential disadvantages, listed asfollows. The site footprint where the waste is received is large. Thesite often requires earthworks to be constructed, such as earthen bermsand/or ramps to contain materials and elevate trucks when dumping. Thewaste is exposed, being dumped on the ground in piles, and this becomesa vector attractant for insects, rodents, etc. Exposed organic wastedoften has a putrid smell which cannot be contained. Leachate concernsmay exist, for example in where unknown liquids can escape into theenvironment. The sites, being large, noisy, and having an unpleasantsmell, are usually situated far from the residential areas where thewaste is collected. Fluctuating organics volumes can make it difficultto schedule trucks for pickup and may require continued monitoring ofthe site by an individual. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are produced bymaterial handling equipment, idling trucks on the site, and inefficienthauling. Noise is produced by material handling equipment and idlingtrucks on the site. The material is handled multiple times, requiringhuman and capital resources at each handling event. The trucks haulingthe waste away may volume out before weighing out, as the material isunprocessed and may not be dense. The unprocessed material may also havea high moisture content, causing the material to be heavier and moreexpensive to transport. The use of a front-end loader limits the type oftrailers and vehicles that can haul away the waste.

Therefore, there is a need for an organic material handling system,including a storage module thereof, that obviates or mitigates one ormore limitations of the prior art.

This background information is provided to reveal information believedby the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention.No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that anyof the preceding information constitutes prior art against the presentinvention.

SUMMARY

An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide anorganic material handling system, a storage module for an organicmaterial handling system, and a control system for an organic materialhandling system. The organic material may compostable. The organicmaterial may include organic waste or a mixture or organic wastes.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided anorganic material handling system comprising: a receiving moduleconfigured to receive organic material from a container vehicle and tomove the organic material in a first direction toward an outlet of thereceiving module, the organic material being discharged downward at theoutlet of the receiving module; a transfer module configured to receivethe organic material from the outlet of the receiving module, and tomove the received organic material in a second direction toward anoutlet of the transfer module; a storage module having an upper openingconfigured to receive and accumulate the organic material followinghandling by at least the transfer module; and a discharge moduleconfigured to receive the organic material from the storage module andto deliver the organic material from an outlet of the discharge moduleto a second container vehicle, the discharge module operableindependently from at least the receiving module and the transfermodule.

In various embodiments, the system further includes: a materialprocessing module configured to mechanically process the organicmaterial, and output the processed organic material; and a secondtransfer module configured to receive the organic material from thematerial processing module after processing, and to move the organicmaterial toward an outlet of the second transfer module, wherein thestorage module receives the organic material from the outlet of thesecond transfer module. In some further embodiments, the materialprocessing module receives the organic material from one of the outletof the transfer module, the storage module, and the discharge module. Insome further embodiments, the material handling system further comprisesa second material processing module which receives the organic materialfrom one of the material processing module, the outlet of the transfermodule, the storage module, and the discharge module.

In various embodiments, the material handling system further includes: aramp configured to guide the container vehicle toward an inlet of thereceiving module, the ramp comprising: a lower end in alignment withground level; an elevated end elevated for positioning of the containervehicle relative to the inlet of the receiving module, the elevated endcomprising at least one wheel chock; a left side guard and a right sideguard, positioned stationary along the left and right side of the rampto guide the container vehicle from the lower end to the elevated end;and a sensor configured to at least determine when the container vehicleis in a predetermined location on the ramp.

In various embodiments, at least one of the receiving module, thetransfer module, the storage module and the discharge module is at leastpartially enclosed in a shell. In some further embodiments, the shellcomprises a plurality of shell modules, at least one shell module in theplurality of shell modules being removable and adjustable allowingcontainment of the organic material within the material handling system.In some further embodiments, at least one shell module in the pluralityof shell modules comprises at least one of a ventilation device and anair filtration device.

In various embodiments, one or more of the receiving module, thetransfer module, and the discharge module are upwardly inclined.

In various embodiments, one or more of the receiving module, thetransfer module, and the discharge module comprise at least onecontinuous loop conveyor.

In various embodiments, the system further includes one or morelevelling bars, each levelling bar disposed in a spaced-apartconfiguration above an upper surface of an associated conveyor, theassociated conveyor being one or more of: a conveyor of the receivingmodule, a conveyor of the transfer module, and a conveyor of thedischarge module, each of the levelling bars configured to distributethe organic material on the associated conveyor. In some furtherembodiments, the one or more levelling bars are stationary or disposedon a continuous loop conveyor.

In various embodiments, the system includes a gate automaticallyadjustable between an open position and a closed position, wherein inthe open position an opening is created for allowing the organicmaterial from the container vehicle to be received by the receivingmodule, and in the closed position the opening is covered by the gate.

In various embodiments, one or more of the receiving module, thetransfer module, and the discharge module comprises a respective chainconveyor comprising: at least two movable, continuous-loop chains; and aplurality of cross-links each coupled to each continuous-loop chain, thecross-links configured to engage with and move components of the organicmaterial.

In various embodiments, the organic material being discharged downwardat the outlet of the receiving module falls a predetermined distanceconfigured to cause processing of the organic material during saidfalling, upon impacting the transfer module, or a combination thereof.

In various embodiments, the system further comprises a de-clumpingdevice configured to decrease the size of components of the organicmaterial impacting the transfer module.

In various embodiments, the second direction of the transfer module hasa horizontal directional component which is parallel to a widthdirection of the receiving module.

In various embodiments, the second transfer module moves the organicmaterial along a third direction, the third direction being differentfrom the second direction of movement of the organic material by thetransfer module. In some further embodiments, a horizontal component ofthe third direction is perpendicular to a horizontal component of thesecond direction.

In various embodiments, the system includes a hopper configured toreceive the organic material from the transfer module and direct theorganic material into the material processing module.

In various embodiments, the system includes one or more liquid capturesystem configured to at least capture and retain liquid expelled by theorganic material.

In various embodiments, the storage module further comprises an internalconveyor disposed in a bottom region of the storage module andconfigured to move the organic waste from the storage module onto thedischarge module when the discharge module is operating. In some furtherembodiments, the storage module further comprises a levelling conveyordisposed in a top region of the storage module, the levelling conveyorconfigured to distribute the organic material internally within thestorage module. In some further embodiments, one or both of the internalconveyor and the levelling conveyor is a chain conveyor comprising atleast two movable, continuous-loop chains and a plurality ofcross-links, each cross-link coupled to each continuous-loop chain, thecross-links configured to engage with and move components of the organicmaterial.

In various embodiments, the system includes a second storage module incommunication with and receiving and accumulating the organic materialdirectly or indirectly from one or more of: the receiving module, thetransfer module, and the storage module.

In various embodiments, the system includes a second material processingmodule configured to receive the organic material directly or indirectlyfrom one or more of: the receiving module, the transfer module, thesecond transfer module, the material processing module, and the storagemodule.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided amethod of handling an organic material, the method comprising: by areceiving module: receiving the organic material from a containervehicle, moving the organic material in a first direction toward anoutlet of the receiving module, and discharging the organic materialdownward at the outlet of the receiving module; by a transfer module:receiving the organic material falling from the outlet of the receivingmodule and moving the received organic material in a second directiontoward an outlet of the transfer module; by a storage module having anupper opening: receiving and accumulating the organic material followinghandling by at least the transfer module; and by a discharge module:receiving the organic material from the storage module delivering theorganic material from an outlet of the discharge module to a secondcontainer vehicle, the discharge module operable independently from atleast the receiving module and the transfer module.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided acontrol system for controlled handling of an organic material,comprising: an unloading user console configured to receive inputrelated to unloading of the organic material by a container vehicle; aloading user console configured to receive input related to loading ofthe organic material into a second container vehicle; a plurality ofsensors configured to detect a quantity of the organic material in atleast one location during the handling of the organic material; and aprocessing unit configured to process input from at least one of theunloading user console, the loading user console, and the plurality ofsensors.

In various embodiments in relation to the control system, the organicmaterial is handled by at least: a receiving module configured toreceive organic material from a container vehicle and to move theorganic material in a first direction toward an outlet of the receivingmodule, the organic material being discharged downward at the outlet ofthe receiving module; a transfer module configured to receive theorganic material from the outlet of the receiving module, and to movethe received organic material in a second direction toward an outlet ofthe transfer module; a storage module having an upper opening configuredto receive and accumulate the organic material following handling by atleast the transfer module; and a discharge module configured to receivethe organic material from the storage module and to deliver the organicmaterial from an outlet of the discharge module to a second containervehicle, the discharge module operable independently from at least thereceiving module and the transfer module. The control system may beoperatively coupled to and control some or all of these modules. Thecontrol system's sensors may be integrated with some or all of thesemodules.

In various embodiments, the control system further includes a signalingdevice in communication with the control system, the signaling devicecomprising: a plurality of indicators, each indicator indicating anaction to be taken by the container vehicle or an action being performedby at least one module handling the organic material.

In various embodiments in relation to the control system, the pluralityof sensors are configured to sense at least one of: a weight of theorganic material, a volume of the organic material, and a height of theorganic material, and the processing unit is configured to operate atleast one of the receiving module, the transfer module, the storagemodule and the discharge module based at least in part on output of atleast one of the plurality of sensors.

In various embodiments, the control system includes a remote radiocontrol subsystem configured to control one or more of the receivingmodule, the transfer module, the storage module and the discharge modulebased on operator input received via the remote radio control subsystem.

In various embodiments, the control system is configured to determine acontrol precedence two or more input subsystems including the loadinguser console and the unloading user console, the control precedenceindicative of which of the input subsystems the control system isresponsive to when a conflict between commands received via the two ormore input subsystems occurs.

In various embodiments in relation to the control system, the pluralityof sensors comprises sensors configured to detect one or moreaccumulating volumes of the organic material at one or more locationswithin a system handling the organic material, the system beingcontrolled by the control system. In some further embodiments, thecontrol system is configured to adjust speed of one or more conveyors ofthe system handling the organic material based at least in part onoutput of the sensors configured to detect one or more accumulatingvolumes. In some further embodiments, the control system is configuredto maximize a rate at which the organic material is transported from anorganic material input to an organic material storage module, said ratebeing maximized based on an indication of material accumulating at oneor more critical points in between the organic material input and theorganic material storage module.

In various embodiments, the control system is further configured tooperate the discharge module to deliver a first controlled amount of theorganic material from the outlet of the discharge module to the secondcontainer vehicle during a first period of time and deliver a secondcontrolled amount of the organic material from the outlet of thedischarge module to the second container vehicle during each of one ormore second periods of time, the first period of time and each of theone or more second periods of time beginning at operator-specified timeinstances.

In various embodiments in relation to the control system, the containervehicle accesses the receiving module via a ramp to deliver the organicmaterial. In some further embodiments, at least one of the ramp and thereceiving module comprise at least one sensor configured to determine aposition of the container vehicle on the ramp or relative to thereceiving module.

In various embodiments, the control system includes a communicationinterface, and the control system is configured to automaticallycommunicate, via the communication interface, with a remote dispatchcenter when either the weight or volume of stored organic material meetsor exceeds a configurable limit.

In various embodiments, the control system includes one or more inputdevices configured to automatically obtain information directly from avehicle, or from a card or other device managed by an operator of thevehicle.

In various embodiments, the control system is further configured tounload a preselected amount of the organic material automatically to thesecond container vehicle, the preselected amount being less than acapacity of the second container vehicle, and subsequently present amanual control mode responsive to manual operator control to unload anadditional amount of the organic material to the second containervehicle.

In various embodiments, the control system includes a plurality ofoperator-configurable settings, accessible via at least one userconsole, the operator-configurable settings comprising one or more of:one or more conveyor speeds; and one or more delays between specifiedconditions and specified actions. In some further embodiments, theoperator-configurable settings are adjustable upon proper authorizationcredentials being received.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided amethod comprising, by an automatic control system: receiving, by anunloading user console, input related to unloading of organic materialby a container vehicle; receiving, by a loading user console, inputrelated to loading of the organic material into a second containervehicle; detecting, by a plurality of sensors, a quantity of the organicmaterial in at least one location during handling of the organicmaterial; and processing, by a computer processing unit, input from atleast one of the unloading user console, the loading user console, andthe plurality of sensors. In various embodiments the organic material ishandled by an organic material handling system as described elsewhereherein.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided anorganic material storage module comprising: a hollow enclosure having aninlet for receiving organic material and an outlet for dischargingorganic material; a removal component disposed within the hollowenclosure and configured to move organic material within the enclosuretoward the outlet; and a leveling component disposed within the hollowenclosure above the removal component and comprising one or more movablecomponents configured to laterally push organic material which isstacked to a height of said movable components, for distribution of saidorganic material within the hollow enclosure.

In various embodiments, the organic material storage module furtherincludes one or more sensors configured to determine total weight orvolume of organic material stored within the hollow enclosure. In somefurther embodiments, at least one of the one or more sensors isconfigured to determine characteristics of a spatial distribution oforganic material stored within the hollow enclosure.

In various embodiments, the organic material storage module furtherincludes a bottom containment system configured to inhibit the organicmaterial from contacting ground. In some further embodiments, theremoval component is a continuous loop conveyor. In some furtherembodiments, the bottom containment system comprises a capture surfacelocated below the removal component, the capture surface configured tocatch organic material that fails to be transferred to the outlet, theremoval component configured to pull said organic material that fails tobe transferred to the outlet toward an end of the organic materialstorage module opposite the outlet and to reintroduce said organicmaterial that fails to be transferred to the outlet into the hollowenclosure. In some further embodiments, the storage module furtherincludes a return pan located at the end of the organic material storagemodule opposite the outlet, the return pan comprising: a first piecehaving a first end which overlaps with and is located under the capturesurface, the first piece further having a curved section which curvesaround an end of the removal component to guide organic material upwardback toward the hollow enclosure; and a second piece which overlapsovertop of a floor of the hollow enclosure and extends toward the curvedsection to capture said organic material guided upward back toward thehollow enclosure, the first piece and the second piece being movablewith and end of the removal component which is located at said end ofthe organic material storage module opposite the outlet. In variousembodiments, the bottom containment system comprises one or more liquidcollection systems configured to receive liquid expelled from theorganic material and direct said liquid toward a collection point.

In various embodiments, the organic material storage module furtherincludes a control system configured to operate the removal component,the leveling component, or both, based at least in part on output of theone or more sensors.

In various embodiments in relation to the organic material storagemodule, the sensors comprise one or more of: one or more load cellsconfigured to measure total weight of organic material within the hollowenclosure; two or more load cells configured to measure total weight oforganic material within the hollow enclosure; and one or more sensorsconfigured to measure total weight of organic material within the hollowenclosure and total volume of organic material within the hollowenclosure.

In various embodiments in relation to the organic material storagemodule, one or both of the removal component and the leveling componentcomprise respective chain conveyors.

In various embodiments in relation to the organic material storagemodule, the inlet is located in a top of the hollow enclosure proximateto a first end of the hollow enclosure, and the outlet is locatedproximate to a bottom of the hollow enclosure at a second end of thehollow enclosure, the second end opposite the first end.

In various embodiments in relation to the organic material storagemodule, a roof of the hollow enclosure is rounded. In some embodiments,the roof is at least partially covered by a flexible cover.

In various embodiments, the organic material storage module furtherincludes an air circulator to move air into or out of the storagemodule.

In various embodiments in relation to the organic material storagemodule, the removal component and the levelling component are powered byelectric motors. In various embodiments in relation to the organicmaterial storage module, the removal component and the levellingcomponent are powered by electric motors are located externally to thehollow enclosure.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided amethod comprising: receiving, at an inlet of a hollow enclosure, organicmaterial; discharging, at an outlet of the hollow enclosure, saidorganic material; by a removal component disposed within the hollowenclosure, moving organic material within the enclosure toward theoutlet; and by a leveling component disposed within the hollow enclosureabove the removal component, laterally pushing organic material which isstacked to a height of said movable components, for distribution of saidorganic material within the hollow enclosure. The method may furtherinclude, using one or more sensors, determining total weight or volumeof organic material stored within the hollow enclosure.

Embodiments have been described above in conjunctions with aspects ofthe present invention upon which they can be implemented. Those skilledin the art will appreciate that embodiments may be implemented inconjunction with the aspect with which they are described, but may alsobe implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When embodimentsare mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some embodiments may bedescribed in relation to one aspect, but may also be applicable to otheraspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in combinationwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a material handling system, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of a receiving module, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of a gate of the receiving module,in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a transfer module, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of a connecting module, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration of a connecting module connected toa receiving module and a transfer module, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a material processing module, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a second transfer module, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A is a schematic illustration of a storage module, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7B, 7C and 7D are cutaway schematic illustrations showing aspectsof a storage module, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7E is a schematic illustration of aspects of a return pan andremoval component, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7F is a schematic illustration of a return pan within a storagemodule, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a discharge module, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a ramp, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A is a schematic illustration of a loading user console, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a schematic illustration of an unloading user console, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a signalling device, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of components of the control system,in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like featuresare identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. The numbers and numberscombined with letters correspond to the component labels in all thefigures.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic materialhandling system including a receiving module for receiving the organicmaterial, a transfer module for moving the organic material, a storagemodule for receiving and accumulating the organic material, and adischarge module for discharging the organic material from the materialhandling system.

In embodiments, the material handling system of the present disclosuremay be contained, automated, may process and store organic (e.g.compostable) material (e.g. waste). Certain example embodiments aredescribed below. The term organic material, as used in variousembodiments of the present disclosure, may refer, for example, tomunicipal compostable waste, industrial compostable waste, manure, brushfrom land clearing, any other bulk material that is mainly organic innature but may also include amounts of sand or other minerals. Theapplications of various embodiments of the material handling system ofthe present disclosure may not necessarily be limited to organicmaterial and may be utilized for other bulk or aggregate materials whichmay benefit from various embodiments of the present disclosure. Organicmaterial may be a material that is generated or accumulated over aperiod, and benefits from processing and/or semi-contained storage priorto being loaded into a means of transportation. This material may bebiosolids, branches and other green waste, compostable food waste,animal carcasses or animal by-products, wood chips, or other material.The moisture content of such materials may vary widely. The materialhandling system in various embodiments may allow for multiple types oforganic material to be input, processed, stored, and dischargedtogether. For example, it may be beneficial to augment householdcompostable organic material with woody material to improve the overallcomposting characteristics and/or texture of the material.

In embodiments, structures may be used to support, raise, lower, elevateor otherwise position and orient various parts and components of thematerial handling system. Structures may be connected to each other andto various parts and components of the material handling system bywelding, machining, use of pins, bolts and other connecting means asunderstood by a person skilled in the art. Structures may includesupports, blocks, landing gear (e.g. manually-operated,hydraulically-operated or electrically-operated), chains, pins, andother structures as understood by a person skilled in the art ofconveyor equipment, industrial equipment, and material processing.

In embodiments, a conveyor may include various features and componentsknown to a person skilled in the art. For example, conveyor may includesome or all of a head pulley, a tail pulley, a driving assembly, agearbox, a take-up adjuster, a belt cleaner, a conveyor belt, a conveyorframe, guards, flashing, skirting and other components known in the art.At least one of the conveyors of the material handling system may be achain conveyor having at least two movable, continuous-loop chains and aplurality of cross-links each coupled to each continuous-loop chain, thecross links configured to engage with and move components of the organicmaterial. Between the cross links there may be spaces allowing materialto fall through. A surface may be located between a top portion of thechain conveyor which moves in one direction and a bottom (return)portion of the chain conveyor which moves in the opposite direction.This surface may support material so that it is consistently moved inone direction by the chain conveyor top portion. However, in the case ofa levelling component (see storage module) or other moving levellingbars implemented using a chain conveyor, this surface is omittedallowing material to fall through the plane of such chain conveyor.

Embodiments may include several conveyors. A receiving conveyor may becapable of receiving organic material. A transfer conveyor may becapable of receiving organic material from the receiving conveyor, andconveying it into a material processing module. A second transferconveyor may be receiving organic material from the material processingmodule and conveying it into a storage module. A discharge conveyor, maybe transporting organic material from the storage module into acontainer, trailer, truck bed, or other item capable of receivingorganic material from the material handling system.

In various embodiments, some or all of the conveyors may be chainconveyors having two continuous loop, driven chains with solidperpendicular cross-links designed to engage and move the material.However, these conveyors may also be continuous belt conveyors, othertypes of conveyors, or augers.

In embodiments, various modules of the material handling system mayinclude one or more levelling bars. Each leveling bar may be disposed ina spaced-apart configuration above an upper surface of the one or moreconveyors of a respective module. Each of the levelling bars may beconfigured to distribute the organic material on the one or moreconveyors. One or more levelling bars may be stationary or may bedisposed on a further continuous loop conveyor. In some embodiments,one, two or more levelling bars are provided at least in the receivingmodule.

In some embodiments, two or more different levelling bars may be locatedat two or more different respective heights above a same conveyor uppersurface. Furthermore, in some embodiments, at least two of these two ormore different levelling bars may be located at a same distance from asame end of the conveyor in a vertically stacked arrangement.Additionally or alternatively, at least two of these two or moredifferent levelling bars may be located at different distances from asame end of the conveyor in a horizontally staggered arrangement. Themultiple levelling bars may cooperate to perform a sequence ofincremental levelling or “knocking down” operations, to progressivelyreduce the stacked height of material on the conveyor. Stacked height isreduced by the levelling bar impeding the progression of an upperportion of the material along the conveyor, while a lower portion isallowed to progress. This breaks away the upper portion of the material,until it subsequently falls into a subsequent gap in material travellingalong the conveyor. By using multiple levelling bars in sequence, eachlevelling operation can be made to have less impact overall, thusfacilitating a more reliable spreading of material over a length of theconveyor. Levelling bars can be rectangular, circular, triangular, orotherwise shaped.

In embodiments, various modules of the material handling system mayinclude a shell (e.g. an enclosure). A shell may include shell moduleswhich may attach (e.g. removable, adjustably) to various parts ofmodules of the material handling system and may contribute to containingthe organic material to inside of the associated module, preventingaccess to the organic material (e.g. to personnel, precipitation,animals, insects), containing gases (e.g. to reduce smell and odoursassociated with organic material) that may escape the organic material,containing moisture and liquids that may escape the organic material,creating a barrier between the organic material and environmental andweather elements, and combinations thereof. Some modules of the shellmay include a ventilation device, an air filtration device, andcombinations thereof, which may contribute to reducing accumulation ofgases within an associated module.

In embodiments, some or all modules and their respective parts may beaccessible and include working space around serviceable parts wherepossible. Accessibility may be provided immediately or with minimaladjustments, such opening doors; removing access panels; and removing ofbolts, screws, pins or similar hardware. Module parts that are directlyor indirectly involved in operating the respective module or the whilematerial handling system (e.g. electric motors) may be locatedexternally to the respective module, and may be readily accessible evenwhen the respective module is filled to capacity with the organicmaterial.

In embodiments, sensors may refer to devices configured to performmeasurements or otherwise obtain information and provide suchinformation to an electronic controller. Examples of sensors includeweight sensors, cameras, radar sensors, lidar sensors, heat sensors, gassensors, moisture sensors, vibration sensors, conveyor velocity ormotion sensors, volume sensors, etc.

In embodiments, a controller can be provided and coupled to sensors,actuators (e.g. motors), user input interfaces, user output interfaces,alarms, an interface with a remote communication system (e.g. a wired orwireless communication system, and cellular service or Internet serviceinterconnect), etc. The communication system may include a dispatchingsystem which communicates with vehicles to schedule organic materialpickup or drop-off actions. A controller is generally an electronicdevice and may include one or more computers, programmable logiccontrollers, microcontrollers, electronic circuits, collections ofrelays, etc. A controller, or more generally a control system includingthe controller, sensors, actuators, user interfaces, etc. may providefor a degree of automation by performing various actions (e.g. startingor stopping conveyors or other devices, opening gates, notifying usersto take certain actions, etc.) automatically in response to detectingpredetermined conditions.

As used herein, a module may be a material handling device such as aconveyor, container, ramp, electronic control system, etc.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the material handling system001, according to an embodiment.

In various embodiments, the material handling system may accept organicmaterial from a variety of (container) vehicles (not shown). A containervehicle may be a dump trailer, a dump truck, a municipal waste truckand/or trailer, a compost collection vehicle, a loader (e.g. front-end),an excavator, or any other vehicle capable of receiving, containing(holding), moving, and discharging a quantity of organic material, asunderstood by a person skilled in the art.

In embodiments, the material handling system 001 may be managed by anautomated and possibly remotely-controlled or managed control system.The control system may include various components such as a processingunit 920, described elsewhere herein; an unloading user console 930,described elsewhere herein, which may be accessed by an operator of thecontainer vehicle, for example, and may be used to enable the materialhandling system to receive the organic material. The processing unit maybe a computer processor executing computer program instructions storedin memory, a programmable logic controller, or the like. The controlsystem may also include a signalling device 940, described elsewhereherein, which may be used to notify the operator of the containervehicle of the status of the material handling system, for example. Thecontrol system may also include a loading user console 910, as describedelsewhere herein, which may be used by an operator of a second containervehicle, for example, to enable the discharge of the organic materialfrom the material handling system into the second container vehicle.

In embodiments, the container vehicle may access the material handlingsystem via a ramp 200. A gate 350 may be used to allow the containervehicle to access a receiving module 300 when the material handlingsystem is ready to receive organic material. The gate 350 may alsoprevent the container vehicle from discharging the organic material intothe receiving module 300 when the material handling system is not readyto receive organic material at a particular time. The gate may beconfigured to open for example upon sensing the vehicle is in a correctlocation and that the system is ready to receive the organic material.

After discharging the organic material into the receiving module 300,for example via the opened gate 350, the container vehicle may exit theramp 200.

The organic material then begins its journey through the materialhandling system.

The receiving module may include one, two, or more levelling bars (304a, 304 b in FIG. 2A) as described above to distribute the load acrossthe receiving module. The levelling bars engage with the organicmaterial as it moves through the receiving module due to conveyoraction. The levelling bars facilitate a spreading out of the organicmaterial from a more vertically stacked arrangement to a more horizontalarrangement. At the same time, the levelling bars may assist in adecompression of the organic material or other type of desired physicalprocessing of the organic material (e.g. increasing air content orvolume, decreasing moisture content, etc.). This may be due to agitationand breaking apart of the organic material due to contact with thelevelling bars.

The organic material continues its journey through the material handlingsystem, it may pass, via a connecting module, into an inclined transfermodule positioned at a somewhat perpendicular angle to the receivingmodule. When transferring onto the transfer module, the organic materialmay fall a distance allowing the organic material to break up andexpand, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the organic material received by thereceiving module 300 is moved into a transfer module 400 via aconnecting module 450. In some embodiments the connecting module simplyacts as a container or shell for the organic material, and may in somecases be omitted. In embodiments, the organic material being dischargedby the receiving module 300 falls downward towards a surface (e.g. aconveyor) of the transfer module 400. The surface may be moving in thesense that the entire surface moves or the surface is integrated withmoving components such as a chain conveyor. The organic material mayfall downward a pre-determined distance, which may be adjustable forexample by adjusting the height or angle of the receiving module. Thefall distance may contribute to the various components of the organicmaterial being separated into smaller components. In addition oralternatively, the fall distance may also contribute to all or some of adecompression of the organic material, an increase in volume of theorganic material (e.g. by increasing the air content), a decrease inmoisture content of the organic material (e.g. by some moisture exitingthe organic material as result of impact after falling downwards).

In embodiments, the organic material being discharged from the transfermodule 400 may be received by a material processing module 500. Afterbeing processed by the material processing module 500, the organicmaterial may be received by a second transfer module 600. The secondtransfer module 600 may be similar to the transfer module 400.

In embodiments, the second transfer module 600 may discharge the organicmaterial into a storage module 700, which may accumulate the organicmaterial up to a pre-determined amount, for example. In embodiments,after the storage module 700 has accumulated a pre-determined amount ofthe organic material, the control system may trigger the materialhandling system to stop discharging any more organic material into thestorage module 700. In embodiments, the control system may trigger anarrival of the second container vehicle to receive the organic materialfrom the storage module 700 via a discharge module 800. The dischargemodule 800 may receive the organic material form the storage module 700and discharge it into the second container vehicle when the secondcontainer vehicle is ready to receive the organic material. Thereadiness of the second container vehicle to receive the organicmaterial may be determined by the control system, for example, viacorresponding input by an operator (e.g. the operator of the secondcontainer vehicle) into the loading user console 910, or, either inaddition or alternatively, by one or more sensors that detect a presentof the second container vehicle in a pre-determined location to receivethe organic material.

In embodiments, the amount of material discharged by the dischargemodule 800 and received by the second container vehicle may bedetermined automatically by one or a combination of one or more sensors(e.g. by estimating a capacity of the second container vehicle); byinput into the control system either remotely or via the loading userconsole; and by setting a recurring amount into the control system.

In various embodiments, the organic material can be added to thereceiving module, or directly into the material processing module, forexample by an excavator or other vehicle with an appropriate reach.

In various embodiments, the various ramps, consoles and modules of FIG.1 , such as devices 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 910, 920, 930,can be provided in a modular manner. That is, each of these differentdevices can be separate and self-contained. Each of these differentdevices may be individually transportable for easy setup at a temporaryor permanent location. The different devices can be arranged together inany one of a variety of layouts, depending on available space andterrain. Furthermore, the system may be modular in the sense thatdifferent sets, arrangements and/or orderings of devices can be achievedusing a common set of available devices. For example, the materialprocessing module is omitted, one of the transfer modules can beomitted, multiple receiving modules, storage modules or dischargemodules can be provided, etc. Modules can be arranged in parallel sothat they each feed into a same next module, or so that they receiveoutput from multiple upstream modules.

Where possible, horizontal conveyor angles of the material handlingsystem may be designed to allow flexibility to accommodate various siteconsiderations and limitations.

In embodiments, directions may be decomposed into horizontal componentsand vertical components in a Cartesian manner so that adding thehorizontal directional component with the vertical directional componentresults in the overall direction. With this in mind, a horizontalcomponent of a first direction 030 of the organic material movement bythe receiving module 300 may be substantially perpendicular to ahorizontal component of a second direction 040 of the organic materialmovement by the transfer module 400. Having differing directions mayassist in breaking up the organic material, due to impartingdirection-changing forces thereon. Furthermore, in some embodiments, thehorizontal component of the second direction 040 is parallel to a widthdirection of the receiving module 300, and thus perpendicular to thehorizontal component of the first direction 030. This facilitates adirection change and also allows for a width difference between theconveyors of the receiving module and the transfer module. However, someembodiments may include non-perpendicular arrangements between thehorizontal component of the first direction 030 and the horizontalcomponent of the second direction 040. For example, in some embodiments,the horizontal component of the first direction 030 and the horizontalcomponent of the second direction 040 may be substantially the same.

In embodiments, the horizontal component of the second direction 040 ofthe organic material movement by the transfer module 400 may besubstantially perpendicular to the horizontal component of a thirddirection 060 of the organic material movement by the second transfermodule 600. However, some embodiments may include non-perpendiculararrangements between the horizontal component of the second direction040 and the horizontal component of the third direction 060. In someembodiments, the horizontal component of the second direction 040 andthe horizontal component of the third direction 060 may be substantiallythe same.

In embodiments, the horizontal component of the third direction 060 ofthe organic material movement by the second transfer module 600 may besubstantially perpendicular to the horizontal component of a fourthdirection 070 of the organic material movement by (e.g. a conveyorwithin) the storage module 700. However, various embodiments may includenon-perpendicular arrangements between the horizontal component of thethird direction 060 and the horizontal component of the fourth direction070. In some embodiments, the horizontal component of the thirddirection 060 and the horizontal component of the fourth direction 070may be substantially the same. The receiving area of the storage modulemay receive the organic material at a wide range of (horizontal) angles(up to 270 degrees or greater), allowing for a flexible layout ofmodules to accommodate for various operating site footprintrequirements, for example.

In embodiments, the horizontal component of the fourth direction 070 andthe horizontal component of a fifth direction 080 of the organicmaterial movement by the discharge module 800 may be substantially thesame. In other embodiments, these two horizontal components of directionmay be different.

In embodiments, each or some of respective arrangements of directions030, 040, 060, 070 and 080 may be pre-determined, fixed, adjustable,custom-made to suit a specific operations site, and combinationsthereof. Relative directions can be adjusted for example by rotating theplacement of various associated modules, changing their angles ofelevation, etc.

In embodiments, a receiving module may include a conveyor (or conveyors)which may be considerably wider (or the combined width of multipleconveyors) than other conveyors in the material handling system to allowfor the full width of a trailer, truck, or loader bucket.

FIG. 2A shows a schematic illustration of the receiving module 300,according to an embodiment.

The receiving module may have an inlet 310 receiving the organicmaterial and an outlet 320 discharging the organic material.

In embodiments, the organic material may be loaded into the receivingmodule 300 having an opening in the top surface by a suitable loadingequipment (e.g. a loader, a conveyor) capable of reaching sufficientheight to discharge the organic material through the top of thereceiving module (not shown).

One end of the receiving module 300 may be elevated over the oppositeend (i.e. upwardly inclined). For example, the outlet 320 may beelevated in comparison to the inlet 310 with respect to the groundlevel. The receiving module 300 may be supported, for example, by one ormore supporting legs 307 a, 307 b and 307 c which may have same ordifferent dimensions. Additional supporting structures, such as a crossbar 308, may be used for additional structural support, for example.

The receiving module 300 may include one or more conveyors 301 (e.g.closed loop conveyors, also referred to as continuous loop conveyors)arranged in parallel to move the organic material towards the outlet320. The conveyors may be chain conveyors, or alternatively beltconveyors or other types of conveyors. The one or more conveyors 301 maybe driven, for example, by a motor assembly 306. The receiving module300 may include side walls 303. The left side wall may be same ordifferent in structure and dimension to the right side wall. Thereceiving module 300 may include an output wall 305 at the outlet 320.The output wall 305 may be fixed or may be adjustable in position. Anopening (not shown) formed between the output wall 305 and the one ormore conveyors 301 may be used to discharge the organic material fromthe receiving module 300. The size of the opening may be fixed or may beadjustable, for example by positioning the output wall 305 higher orlower with respect to the conveyor. The output wall may be omitted,resulting in a relatively unimpeded opening at the outlet end 320.

The receiving module 300 may include levelling bars 304 a and 304 bwhich may be stationary. The leveling bar 304 a may be disposed closerto the one or more conveyors 301 than the leveling bar 304 b. Eachleveling bar may contribute to distributing the organic material on theone or more conveyors 301 as they operate.

The receiving module 300 may include a base 302 which may providesupport to the receiving module 300, may contribute to containing theorganic material and preventing it from escaping the receiving module300 (e.g. except from an outlet), may contribute to collecting moisturefrom the organic material, and combinations thereof.

The receiving module 300 may include a shell (not shown) which may beattached (e.g. removably, adjustably) to some or all of the side walls303 and output wall 305. The cover may contribute to containing theorganic material to inside of the receiving module 300, preventingaccess to the organic material (e.g. to precipitation, animals,insects). The shell may include the side walls 303 in addition to a roofor other top covering.

In various embodiments, once the material handling system is enabled(e.g. via a user input) for receiving the organic material, anelectrically actuated gate in communication with the receiving modulemay open and the receiving conveyor (e.g. one or more conveyors 301 ofthe receiving module of FIG. 2A) is started. The organic material isdischarged by the container vehicle onto the receiving conveyor, whereit is pulled, for example by a chain conveyor into the material handlingsystem.

The gate may open when the control system determines that the materialhandling system is ready to receive organic material. This determinationmay be based on sensors equipped on a ramp, inputs from an operatorpanel (e.g. unloading user console), or elsewhere.

FIG. 2B shows a schematic illustration of a gate 350 for a receivingmodule 300, according to an embodiment.

The gate 350 may include a left frame post 354 a and a right frame post354 b. A left side panel 353 a may be attached to the left frame post354 a. A right side panel 353 b may be attached to the right frame post354 b. Frame posts and side panels may be secured to the inlet 310 ofthe receiving module 300. A left gate door 351 a may be pivotablyattached to the left frame post 354 a. A right gate door 351 b may bepivotably attached to the right frame post 354 b. Both doors may pivotoutward (away from the one or more conveyors 301) into an open positionto allow access to the receiving module to a container vehicle. Whenboth doors 3351 a and 351 b are in a closed position, they may be incontact with each other. Each gate door 351 a and 351 b may be movedbetween open and closed position using, for example, hydraulic orelectric devices 352 a and 352 b, respectively. The devices 352 a and352 b maybe in communication with the control system which may monitor,log, and control the position of the gate doors via the respectivedevices.

The gate may be automatically adjustable between an open position and aclosed position. In the open position, an opening may be created forallowing the organic material from the container vehicle to be receivedby the receiving module, and in the closed position the opening iscovered by the gate.

In embodiments, at the outlet of the receiving module which may includeat least one conveyor, the organic material may be transferred off theoutlet and fall some distance onto a transfer module which may includeat least one conveyor. This falling process onto a moving conveyor maycontribute to breaking up the organic material, preventing large clumpsof organic material from plugging a material processing module which maybe further down the path of the organic material in the materialhandling system, or transitions located later in the material handlingsystem.

In embodiments, other methods may be used to allow the organic materialto expand and decompress to avoid clumps. For example, an inclinedconveyor may be started and stopped, or run at a particular speed, whichmay cause the organic material to tumble on the conveyor. This tumblingaction may assist in separating or otherwise processing the organicmaterial in some situations. A controller with sensors may be used toinitiate and tune such tumbling action. The controller may be a part ofthe control system, as described elsewhere herein.

In embodiments, once the organic material has fallen into the transfermodule, it may be moved via a chain conveyor. In an embodiment, thetransfer module conveyor may be significantly narrower and inclined moresteeply than the receiving module conveyor. The transfer module conveyormay move the organic material to a hopper positioned above a materialprocessing module, where it is fed by gravity into, for example,counter-rotating drums of the material processing module.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a transfer module 400,according to an embodiment.

The transfer module 400 may include one or more conveyors (not visiblein FIG. 3 but located near a bottom of the hollow transfer module) whichmove the material from an inlet 410 to an outlet 420. The inlet 410 mayinclude a hopper (not shown) to receive the organic material. The inlet410 may be connected to a connecting module 450, described elsewhereherein.

The inlet 410 may include a supporting frame 402 and side and rearpanels 403 which enclose the inlet 410 from corresponding sides. Theinlet 410 may be supported by one or more supporting legs 401 a and 401b, which may have same or different dimensions. The transfer module 400may be upwardly inclined.

The transfer module 400 may include an elevated portion 430 whichconnects the inlet 410 to the outlet 420 which may be elevated. Some orall of the elevated portion 430 may be enclosed in side panels 404 onthe left and right side and top cover panels 406, which may be connectedto each nearest panel and form a shell, as described elsewhere herein. Aone or more supporting structure 405 may support the elevated portion430.

The one or more conveyors may be operated using a motor 407 (e.g.electric). As described elsewhere, the conveyors may be belt conveyors,chain conveyors, or the like. In some embodiments, at least one of theconveyors may be an auger or other similar device configured to moveorganic material of suitable composition (e.g. including size ofconstituent components, or range of sizes of constituent components).

FIG. 4A shows a schematic illustration of a connecting module 450,according to an embodiment.

In embodiments, the connecting module 450 may include various structuresthat enclose the organic material being moved from the receiving module300 to the transfer module 400. Such structures may include frames,panels, guards, doors, access panels, sealing elements, flashing,skirting, bridges and other structures which may contribute to one orsome of guiding, containing, and processing of the organic materialbeing moved, as understood by a person skilled in the art.

The connecting module 450 may be connected to outlet 320 of thereceiving module 300, to the inlet 410 of the transfer module 400, or toboth.

The connecting module 450 may include a top cover 541 which may includecover panels 452, which may form a part of the shell, as describedelsewhere herein. The connecting module 450 may include doors 453 a and453 b which may provide access to the inside of the connecting module450, for example, for maintenance and inspection.

FIG. 4B shows a schematic illustration of a connecting module 450connected to the receiving module 300 and the transfer module 400 withdoors 453 a and 453 b open, according to an embodiment.

The organic material being moved (e.g. as shown by directional arrow031) by the one or more conveyors 301 of the receiving module 300 may bedischarged downward (e.g. may fall down), as shown by the directionalarrow 032, into the inlet 410 of the transfer module 400. The falldistance represented by the directional arrow 032 may be predetermined,for example, based on an optimum fall distance for the organic materialto fall in order to increase the amount of air (or space) betweencomponents of the organic material that may be in close contact witheach other (e.g. entangled, clumped, stuck, pressed together), which isan example of passive processing. The fall distance may be optimizedbased on specific organic material to be handled by the materialhandling system. Passive processing may occur when the organic materialis partially or fully processed due to operations which also serveanother purpose, for example transferring the organic material from onelocation to another. Thus, processing and transfer can occur togetherdue to a single action.

The connecting module 450 and the outlet 320 of the receiving module 300may include devices (not shown) contributing to passive processing ofthe organic material. An example of such devices includes a de-clumpingdevice configured to decrease the size of components of the organicmaterial impacting the transfer module. A de-clumping device may includea (e.g. freely) rotating wheel, a blade, or other structure disposed inthe path of the organic material. As the organic material interacts withthe device, the organic material components may break up and/or decreasein size due to impact force. As the organic material interacts with thedevice, it may, in addition or alternatively, be cut or torn by thedevice, resulting in decreased size of the components of the organicmaterial. The organic material may then be redirected past the device toa desired next location. The device may have bumps, ridges, blades,spikes, etc. In an embodiment, a rotating wheel may assist in breakingup material due at least in part to its spinning motion.

At the outlet of the transfer module, the organic material may transferinto a hopper positioned above a material processing module such as ashredder. The organic material may be processed by the materialprocessing module to a size and shape to allow for at least one ofimproved handling, improved storage, and improved composting. Thematerial processing module may include an industrial shredder having aninfeed hopper positioned above counter-rotating drums with cuttingedges, designed to catch and shred materials, for example. The materialprocessing module may include a grinder, shredder, compactor, or otherdevice designed to transform the input organic material.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a material processing module500, according to an embodiment.

In embodiments, the material processing module 500 includes a materialprocessor 530 that receives, (e.g. mechanically) processes anddischarges organic material after processing. Non-limiting examples ofprocessing the organic material by the material processor 530 includeshredding, breaking apart, mixing, combining, homogenizing, decreasingmaterial density, increasing material volume, aerating, and otherwiseprocessing the organic material. The material processor may be anindustrial shredder with counter-rotating drums, for example.

After being processed by the material processor 530, the organicmaterial may be discharged downward via an outlet 520.

In embodiments, an inlet 510 of the material processing module 500 mayinclude a hopper 502 which may receive the organic material from thetransfer module 400, for example, and direct it into the materialprocessor 530. In embodiments, the hopper 502 may include an auger, avibrating device, a gate, a door, a cover, an access panel, and othercomponents that may be incorporated into a hopper, as understood by aperson skilled in the art.

In embodiments, the material processing module 500 may include a motor540 to operate the material processing module 500. The motor 540 may beelectric for example.

In embodiments, the material processing module 500 may include asupporting structure 501, which may include a frame, supports, legs,guards and other components which may contribute to supporting thematerial processing module and its components.

In embodiments, the material processing module may discharge theprocessed organic material from its bottom downward to a conveyor of asecond transfer module, which may be similar in design, width and/orangle to the transfer module. This conveyor may transport the materialto an inlet of a storage module, for example, dumping into an upperopening of the storage module.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a second transfer module 600,according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the second transfer module 600 may be substantiallythe same, at least in terms of general structure and function, as thetransfer module 400, may have some features of the transfer module 400as described above, or may be substantially different from the transfermodule 400.

The second transfer module 600 may include one or more conveyors (notvisible in FIG. 6 ) which move the material from an inlet 610 to anoutlet 620. The inlet 610 may include a hopper (not shown) to receivethe organic material. The inlet 610 may be connected to and receive theorganic material from the material processing module 500, describedelsewhere herein.

The inlet 610 may include side and rear panels 601 which enclose theinlet 610 from corresponding sides. The inlet 610 may be supported byone or more supporting legs 608 a and 608 b, which may have same ordifferent dimensions. The second transfer module 600 may be upwardlyinclined.

The second transfer module 600 may include an elevated portion 630 whichconnects the inlet 610 to the outlet 620 which may be elevated. Some orall of the elevated portion 630 may be enclosed in side panels 607 onthe left and right side and top cover panels 602, which may be connectedto each nearest panel and may form a shell, as described elsewhereherein. A one or more supporting structure 606 may support the elevatedportion 630.

The one or more conveyors of the second transfer module 600 may beoperated using a motor 603 (e.g. electric).

The outlet 620 of the second transfer module 600 may include a chute 604to guide the organic material. An outlet opening 605 of the chute 604may be coupled to a storage module 700, for example.

In various embodiments, the second transfer module's chute (e.g.discharge hood) may be designed to be positioned over the storage moduleat any angle within a 270-degree arc where the conveyor rails do notinterfere with the storage module.

In embodiments, the material handling system may include more than onematerial processing module, arranged in series (e.g. the materialprocessing module discharging the organic material into a secondmaterial processing module and so on), in parallel (e.g. a transfermodule discharging the organic material into the material processingmodule may pivot and begin discharging the organic material into asecond material processing module), or in combination thereof.

In embodiments, the material processing module may be receiving theorganic material from other modules of the material handling system. Thematerial handling system may include more than one material processingmodule, each material processing module receiving the organic materialfrom a same other module or from a different other module. The organicmaterial may be moved from one material processing module to another bya conveyor or by gravity feed in a stacked arrangement, for example.

Once processed by the processing module, the organic material maytransfer, for example via the second inclined transfer module whichtakes the organic material to a storage module (e.g. storage container).In an embodiment, the storage module may include a (e.g. chain) conveyorfor moving the bulk of the organic material from an input end of thestorage module to the discharge end of the chain conveyor. As well, adistribution (e.g. chain) conveyor may operate near the top of thestorage module, for example to level off and distribute organic materialacross the storage module once it reaches the height of the distributionconveyor.

FIG. 7A shows a schematic illustration of a storage module 700,according to an embodiment.

The storage module 700 may include a body 706, which may have a bottom,side walls, and a rear wall, generally defining a hollow enclosure. Thestorage module 700 may include a roof 703 which may be rounded. The roof703 may contain one or more panels 702. The one or more panels 702 mayinclude a flexible (e.g. rain, snow, hail, wind) material (e.g. a tarp,a cover) resistant to weather elements which may be cost-efficient,simple to install, modify, and replace and provide easy access to thecavity of the storage module from the top. The footprint of the storagemodule 700 may be oblong, may be rectangular.

The storage module 700 may receive the organic material via an upperopening (i.e. an inlet) 701 that may be located in the roof 703. Theupper opening 701 may be coupled to an outlet opening 605 of the chute604 of the second transfer module 600 shown in FIG. 6 , for example. Thestorage module may accumulate and store the organic material within itshollow enclosure until, for example, a container vehicle is available toreceive the organic material from the storage module via the dischargemodule. The organic material may be received by the storage module inlarge amount over shorter period of time, leading to faster accumulationof the organic material in the storage module, or the accumulation maybe gradual and intermittent over a period of time. Accumulating andstoring the organic material in the storage module may contribute toreducing rapid increase and accumulation of the organic material.

The storage module 700 may include a removal component, which may be (orinclude) an internal conveyor such as a chain conveyor, disposed withinthe hollow enclosure of the storage module, for example in a bottomregion thereof. The removal component may move the organic materialwithin the enclosure of the storage module 700 toward an outlet 720 thatmay be on the opposite end of the storage module 700 than the upperopening 701, for example.

The organic material entering the storage module via the upper opening701 may fall down into the hollow enclosure of the storage module andmay accumulate in a pile below the upper opening 701. The wholeaccumulated pile or a bottom portion of the pile may be moved from anupper opening end 710 of the storage module to the outlet 720 byconveying action of the removal component.

The outlet 720 may include a door (not shown), which may be operatedmanually or by the control system, or both, to open a predeterminedamount to allow the organic material to be discharged from the storagemodule to the discharge module 800, for example. When storing oraccumulating the organic material inside the storage module, the doormay be in a closed position to contain the organic material (i.e.preventing the organic material from exiting the storage module) 1.

The outlet 720 may include a knife gate (not shown) which may functionas the door described above in addition to having an ability to cut(e.g. vertically, horizontally or otherwise) through the organicmaterial as it is discharged from the storage module.

In an embodiment, the knife gate may slice or saw through the organicmaterial. The knife of the knife gate may include a blade, a saw, orboth.

In embodiments, various functions of the door or the knife gate may becontrolled via the control system. For example, the door or the knifegate may open and close a predetermined number of times, staying in theopen and closed positions a predetermined amount of time. The door orthe knife gate may include at least one sensor, as described elsewhereherein, to detect the presence of the organic material, for example. Thedoor or the knife gate may contribute to controlling the amount of theorganic material being discharged from the storage module, for example.

The storage module 700 may include a leveling component, which may be aleveling conveyor such as another chain conveyor, disposed within thehollow enclosure to distribute the organic material (e.g. laterally)throughout the storage module. The leveling conveyor may includemultiple openings (e.g. between cross-connecting bars of the chainconveyor), to allow organic material to fall through the levelingconveyor. The roof 703 may be rounded and provide clearance above theleveling component. The leveling component may be located in a topregion of the storage module at a predetermined height above the removalcomponent. The predetermined height may be fixed, may be manually orautomatically adjustable (e.g. in response to the level of accumulatedorganic material inside the storage module), or both. The operation ofthe leveling component may be controlled (e.g. automatically) by thecontrol system. For example, once the accumulated pile of the organicmaterial at the upper opening end 710 reaches a certain height, as maybe determined by one or more sensors, the control system may actuate thelevelling component to begin operation. As the leveling componentoperates, it may carry a top portion of the accumulated pile laterallytowards the discharge end or another location at which material is piledto a lesser height.

In an embodiment, the operation of the leveling component may be(automatically) synchronised to the operation of the second transfermodule that feeds the organic material into the storage module. Theoperation of one or more conveyors of the second transfer module maycause the operation of the leveling component; the stoppage of the oneor more conveyor of the second transfer module may cause the stoppage ofthe leveling component. In some embodiments, the levelling componentincludes stationary levelling bars in addition to or alternatively to alevelling conveyor. Stationary levelling bars may interoperate with theremoval component to level organic material by having the removalcomponent move piles of organic material into the levelling bars.

The leveling component and the internal component may be integrated intothe storage module, may be adjustable, removable, or a combinationthereof.

One or both of the removal component and the levelling component may bea continuous loop conveyor. One or both of the removal component and thelevelling component may include a chain conveyor having at least twomovable, continuous-loop chains and a plurality of cross-links. Eachcross-link may be coupled to each of the continuous-loop chains. Thecross-links may be configured to engage with and move components of theorganic material.

The removal component and the levelling component may be powered by oneor more electric motors 705 and 704, respectively. The one or moreelectric motors may be located externally to the hollow enclosure of thestorage module.

As the levelling component operates to distribute the organic materialwithin the storage module, the storage module may continue receiving theorganic material until the level of the organic material within thestorage module reaches a predetermined level or weight, or combinationthereof, as may be measured by one or more sensors of the storagemodule. The storage module may accumulate and store the organic materialfor an amount of time. Once the storage module reaches capacity(capacity may be equivalent to a capacity of a container vehicle, forexample), it may be considered full and the removal component may beoperated to discharge the organic material into the discharge module, ifa container vehicle is available to receive the organic material fromthe discharge module. The control system may request (e.g.automatically) the container vehicle to arrive to receive theaccumulated organic material, which may contribute to improving theefficiency of removing the organic material from a site where thematerial handling system is operating by ensuring that every containervehicle receiving the organic material from the material handling systemcan be filled to capacity on arrival, contributing to limiting orminimizing any potentially or partially wasted trips, smaller materialloads, and waiting (e.g. idling) to fill up to capacity by the containervehicles.

The one or more sensors may include detectors, radars, scales, forexample, which may have some or all of the following functions:determining or monitoring one or all of the temperature, level, volume,weight and/or moisture content of the organic material in the storagecontainer; determining or monitoring a gas amount, content and/orpresence in the storage module. The one or more sensors may be incommunication with the control system.

The storage module may be equipped with both load cells and sensors suchas radar or optical sensors (e.g. cameras, LIDAR sensors, etc) fordetecting the level of collected organic material. When a thresholdamount (e.g. height, weight) of the organic material in the storagemodule is reached, the control system may, for example, send an alert toa remote monitoring station, which dispatches a vehicle (e.g. acontainer vehicle) to pick up the (accumulated) organic material. Loadcells may be located within or inline with supports of the storagemodule. Other sensors such as radar or optical sensors may be locatedwithin the hollow enclosure at suitable points, for example near a topof the hollow enclosure.

The one or more sensors may include multiple load cells (e.g.piezoelectric load sensors) affixed, for example, at each corner of thestorage module to determine the weight and distribution of the organicmaterial currently in the module. The distribution of the organicmaterial may be determined for example from relative weight measurementsat each corner of the storage module. The one or more sensors mayinclude radar, lidar, optical (e.g. machine vision) or similar sensorsto determine the volume and/or distribution of the organic materialinside the module. The measurements taken by the multiple load cells andthe radar sensors and communicated to the control system, for example,may be used by the control system to estimate density and distributionof the organic material inside the storage module.

The one or more sensors may include some or all of the following: apiezoresistive sensor to measure weight of the organic material;ultrasonic sensors; 3D (three-dimensional) imaging sensors to measurethe volume of the material, for example. In an embodiment, one or morescales may be used to weigh container vehicles discharging the organicmaterial to the material handling system and/or receiving the organicmaterial from the material handling system to measure the organicmaterial weight added or removed from the material handling system. Inan embodiment, one or more weight scales or other weighing systems maybe used to determine the amount of added and/or discharged organicmaterial to and from the system.

The one or more sensors of the storage module may communicate with thecontrol system. Reaching a predetermined weight or volume value of theorganic material accumulated in the storage module may trigger aresponse by the control system. The one or more sensors of the storagemodule may determine characteristics of a spatial distribution of theorganic material in the hollow enclosure of the storage module. Theresponse may include one or more commands sent by the control system tooperate the removal and/or the levelling component via variablefrequency drives (VFDs). The levelling component may be operating, forexample, any time the organic material is being discharged into thestorage module, and/or shortly thereafter. The removal component may beoperating, for example, any time the organic material is to bedischarged from the storage module. The removal system may operate atthe same time as the discharge module to cooperate with the dischargemodule to move organic material. The one or more sensors of the storagemodule may measure one or both of total weight of the organic materialwithin the hollow enclosure of the storage module and total volume ofthe organic material within the hollow enclosure.

The storage module 700 may include one or more access panels, forexample a panel 708 in FIG. 7 . Access panels may provide access tocomponents of the storage module for inspection, adjustments andmaintenance, for example. Some or all of the walls, top and panels ofthe storage module may form a shell, as described elsewhere herein. Inan embodiment, the roof 703 may include an air circulator which manyventilate, filter, move air into or out of the storage module, reduceodour, reduce dust, or combinations thereof. Air inside the storagemodule may be filtered by a device installed on the storage module,adjacent the storage module, may be directed offsite, may be directed toa filtering device in a remote location, or a combination thereof.Contents of the air may be measured using sensors and the measurementsprovided to a controller, which may perform appropriate actions forexample to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or dangerous gas buildups.

In an embodiment, the storage module may include a chute at the bottomof the internal conveyor. The chute may contribute to containing andkeeping off the ground the organic material and/or liquids expelled fromthereof. A plurality of return pans may surround a head pulley and atail pulley of the internal conveyor. Each return pan may overlap thenearest one or more pans to minimize possible escape points for bothsolid and liquid organic material components. The organic material thatmay be attached to a surface of the internal conveyor as it returns(rather than being transferred to the discharge module) may be containedin the chute until it is returned to the storage container. Any liquidexpelled from the organic material may flow to a bottom of the chute.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the container is designedsuch that no liquid can readily escape. As well, the entire container isslightly elevated at the discharged end, encouraging liquid toaccumulate at the bottom of the infeed end. Liquid from the organicmaterial (i.e. liquid waste) that accumulates at the bottom of thecontainer, and in the chute accommodating the conveyor, will eventuallydrain to a collection pan located below the tail pulley of the conveyor.This liquid from the organic material can be drained into an appropriatecontainer or discharged directly to a safe location. As well, it may bevaluable as a liquid fertilizer or similar “compost soup.”

In embodiments, the storage module 700 may include a bottom containmentsystem to inhibit the organic material from contacting the ground. Thebottom containment system many include a capture surface located belowthe removal component of the storage module 700. The capture surface maycatch the organic material that fails to be transferred to the dischargemodule 800 via the outlet 720 of the storage module 700. In anembodiment, the removal component may be configured to pull said organicmaterial that fails to be transferred toward an end of the organicmaterial storage module opposite the outlet and to reintroduce saidorganic material into the hollow enclosure of the storage module. Forexample, if the removal component is a continuous loop conveyor, then asthe conveyor operates, its top-facing surface (e.g. facing the roof ofthe storage module) may move the organic material from the upper openingend 710 toward the opposite outlet 720 within the hollow enclosure ofthe storage module. After discharging the organic material via theoutlet 720, the conveyor loops about a pulley (a head pulley) and movesin the opposite direction now facing the bottom of the storage module,during which the conveyor may carry some of the organic material thatgot stuck to the conveyor surface, for example. That is, thebottom-facing, returning portion of the continuous loop conveyor canpull with it at least some of the organic material that failed totransfer out of the storage module. This organic material is pulled tothe beginning of the conveyor, where it can then be pulled back into thehollow enclosure. Spaces at the ends and underneath the conveyor can beprovided to facilitate such a returning action.

In embodiments, the storage module may receive the organic materialfollowing the handling of the organic material by at least the transfermodule. The material processing module may be absent in some embodimentsof the material handling system.

In embodiments, the material handling system may include more than onestorage module, arranged in series (e.g. the storage module dischargingthe organic material into a second storage module and so on), inparallel (e.g. a transfer module discharging the organic material intothe storage module may pivot and begin discharging the organic materialinto a second transfer module), or in combination thereof. The secondstorage module may receive organic material via, for example, a conveyorreceiving the organic material from one storage module and dischargingit into the second storage module. The conveyor may be upwardly inclinedand discharge the organic material into an upper opening of the secondstorage module.

FIG. 7B is a cutaway schematic illustration of the storage module 700,showing the removal component 711 and the levelling component 712 insidea hollow enclosure 713, according to an embodiment. The removalcomponent 711 is provided as two chain conveyors (only one is visible inFIG. 7B) each having a pair of continuous-loop chains connected by aplurality of cross-links (e.g. cross-link 711 a). A floor is providedand located so that top portion of the chain conveyor (havingcross-links moving in one direction) is located above the floor and thebottom portion of the chain conveyor (having cross-links moving in anopposite direction) is located below the floor. Organic material may besupported by the floor and pushed by the cross-links when the chains aremoved via a motor, for example. This may allow the organic material tobe discharged via an outlet 720 (shown with door closed) where it may bedischarged onto a discharge conveyor.

The levelling component 712 is also provided as a chain conveyor havinga pair of continuous-loop chains connected by a plurality ofcross-links. Apertures exist between successive cross-links allowing theorganic material to fall through. When the chains are moved via a motor,the cross-links may move accordingly to impact with and push the organicmaterial that is stacked to at least the height of the levellingcomponent. The organic material may be provided via inlet 701.

FIG. 7C is another cutaway schematic illustration of the storage module700, similar to FIG. 7B. However further detail of the removal component711 is shown in FIG. 7C. The removal component 711 of this illustrativeembodiment includes two chain conveyors 711 b.

FIG. 7D is another cutaway schematic illustration of the storage module700. In this illustration, the levelling component 712 is shown locatedin the upper region of the hollow enclosure of the storage module. Aload cell 713 is shown and may be configured to estimate weight of theorganic material stored in the storage module, possibly in coordinationwith other load cells which may be located in other areas of the storagemodule (not shown). A motor 704 which may operate one or more levelingconveyors or other devices in the storage module is also shown. A motor705 which may operate one or more internal conveyors or other devices inthe storage module is also shown. In embodiments, there may be includedone or more motors 704 and 705.

FIG. 7E is a schematic illustration showing an end of the removalcomponent 711, and is similar to FIG. 7F, discussed further herein.Aspects of a return pan (see component 750 in FIG. 7F) of the removalcomponent are also shown, such as the curved section 752 a 1 whichcurves around the end of the removal component. The continuous-loopchains 711 c and cross-links 711 a of the chain conveyor (e.g. 711 b inFIG. 7C) are shown.

FIG. 7F shows a schematic illustration of a return pan 750, according toan embodiment.

A return pan may be located at the end of the organic material storagemodule opposite the outlet. The return pan may include a first piece 752a having a first end which overlaps with and is located under thecapture surface 751 b. The first piece 752 a further has a curvedsection 752 a 1 which curves around an end of the removal component toguide organic material upward back toward the hollow enclosure. Thereturn pan may include a second piece 752 b which overlaps overtop of afloor 751 a of the hollow enclosure and extends toward the curvedsection to capture said organic material guided upward back toward thehollow enclosure. The first piece 752 a and the second piece 752 b maybe movable with an end of the removal component which is located at saidend of the organic material storage module opposite the outlet. Thebottom containment system may include one or more liquid collectionsystems configured to receive liquid expelled from the organic materialand direct said liquid toward a collection point. A collection pan 753may form part of this liquid collection system. A lower floor 751 b isprovided to support organic material being pushed by the chain conveyorback toward the hollow enclosure.

In embodiments, at least one return pan as described above may beincluded with any one or more of the conveyors within any one or moremodule of the material handling system, as described herein. In anembodiment, each conveyor of the material handling system may includesuch a return pan.

A discharge module may be connected to an outlet of the storage moduleopposite an end at which the storage module receives organic material.The discharge module may be fed, for example, by a chain conveyor alongthe bottom of the storage module. Once a container vehicle is onsite forpickup of accumulated organic material, it may position under thedischarge module outlet (e.g. having a discharge conveyor) and prepareto receive organic material.

Organic material may be discharged from the storage module by operatingthe internal conveyor of a removal component to transfer organicmaterial to a (discharge) conveyor of a discharge module. The dischargeconveyor may be similar in width and vertical angle to the transfermodule conveyors and may receive the organic material from the storagemodule. The organic material may be transported by the dischargeconveyor to an outlet end of the discharge conveyor where it can bedischarged into a container, vehicle, or similar device capable ofreceiving the organic material from the material handling system.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a discharge module 800,according to an embodiment.

The discharge module 800 may receive the organic material via an inlet810 which is operatively coupled to the storage module 700. Theoperation of the discharge module 800 may be independent from at leastthe receiving module 300 and the transfer module 400. The dimensions ofthe inlet 810 may be matched to the dimensions of the outlet 720 of thestorage module 700, for example, to mitigate the organic material fromescaping the modules during transfer from the storage module to thedischarge module.

The discharge module 800 may include one or more conveyors 809 forreceiving and moving the organic material toward an outlet 820 that maydeliver the organic material into a receiving (e.g. a second) containervehicle. The discharge module 800 may include a frame 806 and supportingstructures 804 and 808. The supporting structure 804 may support theframe 806 near the outlet 820. The supporting structure 808 may supportthe frame 806 near the inlet 810. The supporting structure 804 may betaller than the supporting structure 808 resulting in the frame 806being positioned at an angle with outlet 820 being above the inlet 810.The discharge module 800 may be upwardly inclined. The height of theoutlet 820 above ground may be predetermined in order accommodate areceiving container vehicle under the outlet 820 to receive the organicmaterial. In an embodiment, the height of the outlet 820 may beadjustable, for example, by adjusting the height of the supportingstructure 804. The outlet 820 may include additional structures, forexample to support and guide the organic material being dischargedthrough the outlet 820.

The frame 806 may have attached left and right side panels which maypartially or fully enclose the left and right side of the one or moreconveyors 809. The left and right side panels 807 near the inlet 810 mayform a tapered section 801, forming a larger opening that forms theinlet 810, and decreasing in size into a smaller opening in thedirection of movement of the organic material by the one or moreconveyor 809. As the left and right side panels 808 decrease in size,they may be connected to the corresponding left and right side panels804, some or all of which may have the same size. All adjacent panelsmay connect with one another either permanently or adjustably. Thedischarge module 800 may include top panels 802 covering the taperedsection 801 and top panels 803 covering the one or more conveyors 809along the side panels 804. All side and top panels may form a shell, asdescribed elsewhere herein, that may enclose the organic material movingin the discharge module to an inner cavity formed by the one or moreconveyor 809, the left and right side panels 805 and 807 and top panels802 and 803. Other configurations of the discharge module and/or itsenclosure can also be provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a ramp, allowingcontainer vehicles such as municipal collection trucks, to drive (e.g.back) onto it. The ramp may include guide rails on either side, toassist in guiding the vehicle tires into place. At the end of an upperportion of the ramp, wheel chocks may be used to prevent the vehiclefrom moving too far. There may also be a sensor to detect when thevehicle wheels are in place. The ramp (or another inclined or raisedarea) may be provided to allow container vehicles to gain elevation overthe receiving module to allow for complete discharging of organicmaterial.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a ramp 200, according to anembodiment.

The ramp 200 may have a lower end 210 that may be substantially levelwith the ground and allowing a container vehicle to drive onto the rampdirectly from the ground. The ramp 200 may have an elevated end 220opposite the lower end 210. The elevated end 220 may be substantiallyaligned with the inlet 310 of the receiving module 300. The elevated end220 may be elevated for positioning the container vehicle relative tothe inlet of the receiving module to a predetermined (e.g. optimized)height above ground that allows the container vehicle to discharge theorganic material into the receiving module while the container vehicleis positioned at the elevated end 220 of the ramp 200.

The elevated end 220 may include a connecting part 204. The connectingpart 204 may connect to the receiving module, for example, to secure theramp to the receiving module. The elevated end 220 may include at leastone wheel chock 203. In embodiments, at least two wheel chocks 203 maybe positioned to block the at least two wheels of the container vehicle,for example to prevent the container vehicle from driving off the rampor coming into contact with the receiving module and potentiallydamaging it. Wheel chock 203 may have a wedge shape, may be made of asturdy material, and may have other design and compositional featuresthat allow effective stoppage of a wheel of the container vehicle andprevent the container vehicle wheel from moving past the wheel chock, asunderstood by a person skilled in the art. A sensor may be integratedinto the wheel chock of another part of the ramp to detect when avehicle is in position.

The container vehicle may drive onto the lower end 210 of the ramp 200,while moving either forward or backward depending on the particulardesign of the material discharging mechanism of the container vehicle(e.g. a dump truck may back onto the ramp; a front end loader may driveforward onto the ramp).

The ramp 200 may be supported in elevated position and secured in placeby a frame 206 containing heavy blocks 205. The frame 206 may extendhorizontally outward on opposite side (i.e. left and right side) of theramp 200 other than the lower end 210 and the elevated end 220. Theframe on the left and right side may contain at least one heavy block205, sufficient in total weight to ensure steady placement of the rampduring movement of the container vehicle on the ramp. It is noted thatthe blocks and other components may have hooks for use in moving theblocks by appropriate equipment, thus facilitating modularity of thesystem.

The ramp surface may include individual panels 202, which may overlapallowing for adjustable positioning of the ramp and to eliminate anygaps in the ramp surface.

The ramp 200 may include a left guard 201 b and a right guard 201 a. Theguards may contribute to guiding the container vehicle movement on theramp. The guards may include solid or semi-solid material, may betubular, may have a shock absorbent quality, may be adjustable inposition on the ramp, may be stationary, may be replaceable, and/or maybe coated for increased visibility (e.g. bright colour, reflective inlight, glow in the dark, etc.).

The ramp 200 may include one or more sensors (e.g. motion, weight,photosensor, light beam, a camera, etc.) having at least one of thefollowing functions: determining when the container vehicle is in apredetermined position on the ramp; measuring weight of the containervehicle; and providing a live video feed of an area of the ramp, such asthe wheel chocks, to allow an operator of the container vehicle todetermine the position of the container vehicle on the ramp. The one ormore sensors may provide the sensed information to the control system.By measuring weight of the container vehicle, the weight of the organicmaterial entering the system can be determined. This information can beused by the control system to assist in tracking the amount of materialin the system, which in turn can be used to schedule further loadingand/or unloading operations.

In various embodiments, when a container vehicle arrives to receiveaccumulated organic material from the material handling system, anoperator of the container vehicle may exit the vehicle and operate atouch screen interface on a loading user console, for example. Theinterface may allow the operator to select an amount of organic materialto discharge by the material handling system (e.g. by the dischargemodule) at a time, which may be tracked via load cells in the storagemodule, for example. The organic material may also be discharged inmultiple stages to accommodate different types of container vehicles.The interface may also allow or require the operator to enter an ID,password, and/or provide a magnetic swipe or RFID card to record thevehicle accepting the discharged organic material.

FIG. 10A shows a schematic illustration of a loading user console 910,according to an embodiment.

The loading user console 910 may be standalone, or may be adjacent amodule of the material handling system. The loading user console 910 mayinclude a panel 912 that may include a cover 911. The cover 911 mayprovide some protection against weather (e.g. rain, snow, hail) andother elements (e.g. gravel, debris) to the panel 912. The panel 912 mayinclude at least one of the following: a user input device, a useroutput device, one or more buttons, a key lock, a scanning device (e.g.barcode, access card), and an emergency stop button.

The loading user console 910 may include a base 914 that may support andstabilize the loading user console 910. The loading user console 910 mayinclude a post 913, the lower end of the post 913 attached to the base914 and the upper end of the post 913 attached to the panel 912, thecover 911, or both. The post 913 may have a fixed height or may beadjustable.

In various embodiments, once the container vehicle bringing the organicmaterial to the material handling system is positioned on the ramp, thecontainer vehicle operator may exit the container vehicle and enter anidentification or access code into an unloading user console, enablingthe material handling system for receiving material.

FIG. 10B shows a schematic illustration of an unloading user console930, according to an embodiment.

The unloading user console 930 may be standalone, or may be adjacent amodule of the material handling system. The unloading user console 930may include a panel 932 that may include a cover 931. The cover 931 mayprovide some protection against weather (e.g. rain, snow, hail) andother elements (e.g. gravel, debris) to the panel 932. The panel 932 mayinclude at least one of the following: a user input device, a useroutput device, one or more buttons, a key lock, a scanning device (e.g.barcode, access card), and an emergency stop button.

The unloading user console 930 may include a base 934 that may supportand stabilize the unloading user console 930. The unloading user console930 may include a post 933, the lower end of the post 933 attached tothe base 934 and the upper end of the post 933 attached to the panel932, the cover 931, or both. The post 933 may have a fixed height or maybe adjustable.

In some embodiments, one or both of the loading and unloading userconsole can be replaced or augmented with remote devices such as cellphones, tablets, or computers, which are carried by personnel and whichare communicatively coupled to the remainder of the control system via awireless communication link.

Embodiments of present disclosure may include a signalling device (e.g.a signalling tower) with various indicators to assist (e.g. container)vehicles that are prepared for discharging the organic material. Thesignalling device may be positioned visible to approaching vehicles, aswell as visible in a mirror of vehicles that are backing up or otherwisemoving into a position to discharge the organic material.

The signalling device, in one such embodiment of the present disclosure,may have several lights to convey status and desired actions to theoperators, especially those operating vehicles to discharge the organicmaterial. The signalling device may be one aspect of a control systemwhich monitors and controls the material handling system, as well ascommunicated with other systems, and interacts with users via multipleuser interfaces.

The signalling device may have several lights to guide an operatorinputting organic material into the material handling system]. Thesignalling device may be similar in appearance to a traffic light, withlights indicating various statuses of the material handling system.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of a signalling device 930,according to an embodiment. The signalling device is configured tocommunicate instructions to a vehicle driver, in relation to loadingmaterial into the system (or alternatively retrieving material from thesystem). Other types of signaling devices can be used, such as audioinstructions, instructions conveyed by a remote device, etc. Thesignalling device can be controlled automatically by the control systemor controlled by an operator.

The signaling device 940 may be standalone, or may be adjacent a moduleof the material handling system. The signaling device 940 may bepositioned in a location most visible to an operator of a containervehicle delivering the organic material to or picking up organicmaterial from the material handling system (e.g. visible whenapproaching the material handling system, visible when backing on siteof the material handling system or on the ramp, visible in a mirror ofthe container vehicle when on site of the material handling system).

The signaling device 940 may include a plurality of indicators 941. Atleast one indicator in the plurality of indicators 941 may include atleast one of the following attributes: be visible from a distance, bevisible in different weather conditions, be visible at any time of day,have a corresponding message to be signalled.

In embodiments, plurality of indicators 941 may include the followingindicators: “WAIT” indicator 944 with a corresponding light indicator944 a; “START SYSTEM” indicator 945 with a corresponding light indicator945 a; “SYSTEM READY” indicator 946 with a corresponding light indicator946 a; “DUMP” indicator 947 with a corresponding light indicator 947 a;and “EXIT” indicator 948 with a corresponding light indicator 948 a.

At least one indicator in the plurality of indicators 941 may include atleast one of the following: a light (e.g. one colour, different colourscorresponding to different signals, may be in constantly duringsignalling, may be on intermittently during signaling); a text (e.g.illuminating or not illuminating). At least one indicator in theplurality of indicators 941 may indicate one of the following: a messageto an operator of the container vehicle to wait (e.g. “WAIT” indicator944 with a corresponding light indicator 944 a); a message to anoperator of the container vehicle to perform a certain action (e.g.drive onto the ramp, enter input into the loading user console 910 orthe unloading user console 930 as may be signalled by the “START SYSTEM”indicator 945 with a corresponding light indicator 945 a, discharge theorganic material into the receiving module as may be signalled by the“DUMP” indicator 947 with a corresponding light indicator 947 a; exitthe ramp as may be signalled by the “EXIT” indicator 948 with acorresponding light indicator 948 a); an action being performed by acomponent of the material handling system; and a status of the materialhandling system or one of its modules (e.g. “SYSTEM READY” indicator 946with a corresponding light indicator 946 a).

The signaling device 940 may include a base 943 that may support andstabilize the signaling device 940. The signaling device 940 may includea post 942, the lower end of the post 942 attached to the base 943 andthe upper end of the post 942 attached to the plurality of indicators941. The post 942 may have a fixed height or may be adjustable.

In embodiments, the control system may be provided to, for example,control and monitor the handling of the organic material by the materialhandling system or by components thereof.

In embodiments, the entire material handling system or its individualmodules may be monitored and controlled by the control system, whichexists at least in part locally but may be operated locally or remotely.This control system may also interface with additional new or existingcontrol systems.

A first operator panel, kiosk, control pad, touch screen, or similarinterface (e.g. the unloading user console) may be provided to allowoperators to input information and prepare the material handling systemto receive organic material. Also potentially included is an RFIDreader, magnetic card scanner, or other device for driveridentification. The process of checking in the operator and preparingthe material handling system for receiving organic material may also bedone by a dedicated operator on site or remotely, or it may be automatedby recognizing vehicles via RFID or other touchless system.

A main control cabinet which may house the control system components,any required transformers or other power systems, processor controls,and any other controls, electronic equipment, or power managementequipment required to control and manage the system may be provided.These controls and components may also be distributed in several panelsor junction boxes.

A second operator panel, kiosk, control pad, touch screen, or similarinterface (e.g. the loading user console) may allow operators to inputinformation and prepare the material handling system to dischargeorganic material. Also potentially included here is an RFID reader,magnetic card scanner, or other device for driver identification. Theprocess of checking in the operator and preparing the material handlingsystem to discharge organic material may also be done by a dedicatedoperator on site or remotely, or it may be automated by recognizingvehicles via RFID or other touchless system.

In embodiments, when a container vehicle is prepared to receive theorganic material from the material handling system, the storage modulemay discharge (e.g. via the discharge module) the organic material foras long as it is commanded by the control system, which may be until acertain weight or volume of organic material is discharged.

The control system may control the operation of the material handlingsystem where the material is handled by at least a receiving module, atransfer module, a storage module and a discharge module, as describedherein. The control system may include a signaling device having one ormore indicators. Each indicator may indicate an action to be taken bythe container vehicle (e.g. to discharge the material, to exit the ramp,to wait, to prepare to receive the material, to enter an access code orand ID) or an action being performed by one or more modules handling theorganic material (e.g. receiving material, discharging material).

The control system may receive readings from one or more sensors of thematerial handling system. Sensors may be configured, for example, tosense at least one of a weight of the organic material, a volume of theorganic material, and a height of the organic material (e.g. on aconveyor or in a storage module). At least some of the sensors may becooperatively configured to contribute to managing the operation of atleast one module handling the organic material, for example via thecontrol system. Sensors may detect accumulating amounts of organicmaterial at multiple locations throughout the material handling system,for example the amount of organic material being discharged from thereceiving module to the transfer module, the amount of organic materialbeing received by the hopper of the material processing module, and theamount of organic material present in the storage module. The sensorreadings, such as the amount of organic material at a specific locationwithin the material handling system, may be used by the control systemto control the operation of a conveyor within a module or a speed and/oroperation of a conveyor of the material handling system.

The control system may control the amount of material discharged fromthe discharge module. For example, the discharge module may be set todeliver a first amount of the organic material from the outlet of thedischarge module to the receiving container vehicle during a firstperiod of time; and to deliver a second amount of the organic materialfrom the outlet of the discharge module to the receiving containervehicle during a second period of time. The first period of time and thesecond period of time may be separated by another period of time duringwhich there is not material discharged from the storage module. Furtherperiods of time may also be provided for similarly. The beginning ofeach period of time may be specified by an operator. The receivingcontainer vehicle may benefit from controlled discharge of the organicmaterial from the storage module possibly allowing the operator of thereceiving container vehicle to accurately load the vehicle whileavoiding overfilling or under filling it. For example, an operator caninitiate a first discharge into a first part of the vehicle during thefirst period of time, and then move the vehicle, and initiate a seconddischarge into a second part of the vehicle during the second period oftime. The controlled discharge can include a controlled rate at whichmaterial is discharged from the storage module. When the material hasbeen broken up into readily separable components, the discharge can becontrolled more readily.

The control system may include a remote (e.g. radio) control subsystemto control one or more modules of the material handling system. Theremote control subsystem may enable an operator of a container vehicleto enable the material handling system to receive the organic materialat various points throughout the system. For example, an operator of anexcavator may use the remote control subsystem to (e.g. remotely) enablethe operation of the material processing module before discharging theorganic material directly into a hopper of the material processing unit,or at another appropriate location. The remote control subsystem caninclude a radio interface on a predetermined radio band, a networkinterface such as a Wi-Fi™ interface, a network interface operating overa cellular communication connection, or the like.

In some embodiments, the control system is configured to determine acontrol precedence between the loading user console, the unloading userconsole, one or more signaling devices, remote control subsystems orconsoles that may or may not be within line of sight, and any othersources of control input. For example, when two commands are input tothe system by two different users or from two different points, thecontrol system may be configured to determine whether there is aconflict between the two commands, or whether the control system canoperate the system to satisfy both commands concurrently. The conflictmay be in the form of a safety issue or an operational issue. If aconflict exists, the control system may be configured to prioritizefollowing some commands over others, based on a predetermined set ofrules. In some embodiments, the rules may further be contingent on theoutput of one or more sensors.

In some embodiments, the control system is configured to slow and(possibly) eventually stop one or more operations, such as conveyor beltmotions, to reduce or prevent additional accumulations of material. Forexample, the control system may determine via sensors that one or moreportions of the material handling system are near capacity, in whichcase the control system may slow conveyors upstream of said portions sothat an overload of material does not occur there. The control systemmay subsequently speed up these upstream conveyors when the sensorsindicate that the material buildup to near capacity has abated. Thecontrol system may further signal a vehicle to retrieve material fromthe system in such an event, and/or signal other vehicles to abortproviding new material into the system.

In some embodiments, the control system may be configured to maximizethe rate or speed at which material is transported from the receivingmodule to the material storage module based on material accumulating atone or more critical points in the system. Sensors can be used todetermine locations at which material may be accumulating, amounts ofaccumulations at such locations, or a combination thereof. This can bedone by sensing rates of material flow at various points and performingsubtractions to detect accumulations, or by sensing amounts of materialat various points. The control system can be configured to set conveyorspeeds such that material is inhibited from accumulating past a criticalthreshold at one, some or all locations within the system, but causingthe rate at which material is transferred through one, some or all ofthese locations to be as high as possible while inhibiting suchaccumulation. A high rate of material transfer can be achieved by havinga correspondingly high volume of material being transferred at asufficient conveyor speed. Bottlenecks can be identified and the systemcan be slowed to inhibit problems such as jamming or overflow at thesebottlenecks. Overflows and jams will tend to detract from the materialtransfer rate.

In some embodiments, the control system includes a communicationinterface, such as a network connection, allowing the system tocommunicate to a remote dispatch center or other operator when an alertcondition is triggered. The alert condition can include that either theweight or volume (or both) of stored material meets or exceeds aconfigurable limit. The alert condition can include that an overflow,jam or equipment failure has occurred. The communication can includedetails of the circumstances triggering the alert condition.

In some embodiments, the control system includes input devices, such asRFID readers or optical or magnetic code readers, configured to readinformation directly from a vehicle, or from a card or similar devicemanaged by the vehicle operator. The information can include anidentification of an operator or vehicle for use in tracking purposes.In some embodiments, the information can include other information suchas vehicle capacity, organic material composition, etc.

In some embodiments, the control system is configured to unload apredetermined or preselected amount (e.g. a majority) of materialautomatically via the discharge module. The control system may then beconfigured to present a manual control option, whereby an operator canmanually input commands (e.g. button presses) to cause the system tounload further material under close manual supervision. For example, thecontrol system can identify the capacity of the vehicle, transfer 80% or90% (or a user-selected amount) of organic material to the vehicleautomatically, and then stop, offering a manual control mode for loadinga remaining amount, as desired.

In some embodiments, the control system is operator-configurable withrespect to one or more settings. A user console such as a computerinterface can be provided for configuring these settings according tooperational needs or preferences. Examples of configurable settingsinclude, conveyor speeds, alarm conditions, delays between certainconditions and associated actions, etc. An authorization may be requiredfor changing settings, such as certain login credentials including apassword, a certain key press sequence, biometrics, multi-factorauthentication, credentials received from an RFID card, or the like, ora combination thereof.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of a control system 900,according to an embodiment.

The control system 900 includes a processing unit 920, which may includea plurality of processing sub-units. The processing unit 920 mayexchange information and commands with the unloading user console 930and the loading used console 910. The processing unit 920 may furtherreceive information from a plurality of sensors 950. Sensors may belocated in various modules and parts of the material handling system andfunction as described throughout the present disclosure. The signallingdevice 940 may also receive information from the processing unit 920.

The unloading user console of the control system may be configured toreceive input related to unloading of the organic material by acontainer vehicle. The loading user console of the control system may beconfigured to receive input related to loading of the organic materialinto a second container vehicle. The processing unit of the controlsystem may be configured to process input from at least one of theunloading user console, the loading user console, and a plurality ofsensors (e.g. sensors 950) to detect a quantity (e.g. volume, weight,height or combination thereof) of the organic material in at least onelocation during the handling of the organic material.

In an embodiment, at least one of the unloading user console and theloading user console may include an operational data component. Forexample, the operational data component can provide, receive, or bothprovide and receive data indicative of different operationalinformation, such as organic material volumes currently in the system orbeing provided to the system, composition of organic material, deliveryor pickup schedule, delivery or pickup history, expected amount of timeuntil storage module(s) are full or empty, etc.

The processing unit 920 may be in communication (e.g. wireless) with aremote station 960 which may have monitoring and/or control functionsover the operation of the material handling system.

The control system 900 may include one or more actuators 970. Theactuators 970 may include any motor or other movable device operating amodule or a part of the material handling system, conveyor motors, gatemotors, ventilation fans, and any other motorized moving parts of thematerial handling system. The actuators may receive commands from theprocessing unit 920 and in some embodiments may send information to theprocessing unit 920 which may include status of a respective actuator(e.g. non-operational, needing maintenance, connection to an actuatornot detected).

In some embodiments, in relation to the control system, an estimate ismaintained of the weight discharged from the storage module to thedischarge module, but before the discharge module has discharged thematerial thereon into a waiting vehicle. This is useful to track becausethere may often be organic material left in the discharge module afterthe storage module stops providing material. This material can no longerbe measured by weight sensors (e.g. load cells) of the storage module,but which will contribute to the total that is loaded into a trailer.This amount can be tracked by monitoring changes in the weight sensorreadings, the discharge module conveyor speed, and the known length ofthe discharge module conveyor. In some embodiments, the control systemuse the information received from one or more sensors of the storagemodule related to the amount of the organic material discharged from thestorage module. In addition, as the discharge module may not include anysensors to measure the amount of organic material on the dischargemodule, said amount may be estimated by the control system indirectly.For example, at least one of length, width, and (e.g. predetermined ormeasured in real time during operation) speed of one or more conveyorbelts of the discharge module may be used by the control system toestimate (e.g. calculate) the amount of organic material remaining onthe discharge module after it has discharged organic material to thecapacity of the container vehicle receiving the organic material.

Although the material processing module is described primarily as beinglocated at the interface between the transfer module and the secondtransfer module, in other embodiments the material processing module maybe at another location, provided that effective material processing isstill feasible. For example, the material processing module may belocated between the receiving module and the transfer module. As anotherexample, the material processing module may be located at the interfacebetween a transfer module and the storage container. Multiple materialprocessing modules, of the same type or different types, can be providedtogether or at separate locations.

Other embodiments may omit the material processing module and the secondtransfer module. Other embodiments may also include multiple materialprocessing modules, additional conveyors, or multiple storage modules.

In embodiments, throughout the system, conveyors and material transferpoints may be designed to capture and retain liquid from the organicmaterial. As well, covers (e.g. tops, panels) on the conveyors andmodules may reduce vector attraction, that is, the attraction ofinsects, rodents, and other undesired creatures. Smell and noise mayalso be reduced. In some embodiments, additional fans or filters may beused to further reduce escaping particulate and odour, especially on thestorage module.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for multiple stages oforganic material processing. Some or all of these stages may provide fora decompression of the organic material, which may be performedincrementally by each of a plurality of stages. Organic material isoften delivered in compacted form for transportation purposes, forexample by compressing the material into the container of a truck. Thiscompacted form can be difficult to process, for example by a processingmodule such as a shredder. For example, objects such as twigs, branches,grasses and compost can be interwoven or tangled together and notreadily separable. By processing the material at multiple successivestages, the material can be more readily processed overall. That is, themultiple stages cooperate together to process the material in a desiredmanner in multiple increments, rather than attempting to perform all ofthe processing at one point, such as at a single material processingmodule. Indeed, one example of such a stage is the material processingmodule itself.

Another example of such a stage is a levelling bar for example locatedat a receiving conveyor. Furthermore, two or more levelling bars may beprovided as two or more respective stages. A first levelling bar mayknock material off of the top of a pile. A second, lower levelling barmay spread the material out across a length and/or width of theconveyor. The first and second levelling bars may be disposed in astaggered or stacked configuration. The levelling bars may performspreading, decompression, separation, or other desired actions on theorganic material.

Another example of such a stage is at the interface between conveyors,where the organic material is made to fall a predetermined distance fromone conveyor output end (outlet) onto another conveyor. This fallingaction allows the organic material to undergo further desired actionssuch as spreading, decompression and/or separation. For example, theorganic material may fluff up and expand, or otherwise decrease indensity. This action may be due in part to the falling itself, where apart of the material hangs in air for a certain period and is notpressed up against neighbouring material. This action may be due in partto the material landing on a conveyor surface at the end of falling,which imparts an impact force which may break apart the material. Thisaction may further be due in part to the conveyor, upon which thematerial lands, running at speed. This may cause a spreading, rolling orotherwise agitating effect on the material as it lands due to a suddenchange in horizontal as well as vertical direction of motion. Suchstages can occur for example at the interface between the receivingmodule and the transfer module, at the interface between two transfermodules, at the interface between the material processing module and aconveyor providing material thereto or receiving material therefrom, orat the interface between the third transfer module and the storagemodule.

Potential advantages of embodiments of the present invention are listedas follows. The modular components may allow for a small site footprintin many layout configurations. No earthwork site preparation isnecessarily required other than a compacted gravel foundation and asupply of power. The organic material may be rarely or never exposed tothe ground and may be contained to reduce vector attraction and smell.The resulting site, being smaller and less intrusive than conventionalsites, can be placed nearer to the collection locations, or multiplesites can be used. Sensors can be used to monitor the collected organicmaterial and automatically dispatch trucks as required for hauling itaway. A significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions canpotentially occurs for several reasons. Emission reduction can resultfrom significantly less material handling as trucks dump straight intothe system, and organic material is transloaded directly into trailersfrom the system. The number of idling trucks can be decreased, as trucksmay be called only when needed for hauling away, and collection trucksmay be guided by rails and the control system to quickly dump and leavethe site. The material may be processed immediately, allowing moistureto be reduced, densifying the remaining solids, and reducing or removinghandling and processing on the back end. The material can now be dumpeddirectly into windrows on site. Another potential advantage is thatnoise may be reduced by the reduced handling and idling. Operating costsmay be reduced by the decreased need for material handling and sitemonitoring. The resulting organic material may be dryer and denser,allowing for more efficient hauling. The transload/discharge method mayinvolve a conveyor belt, allowing a wide variety of trailers andvehicles to be loaded.

Although embodiments of the present invention are described primarilywith respect to handling of municipal organic material, it is noted thatother applications and use cases for embodiments exist with comparablebenefits. For example, embodiments of the present invention can beimplemented for handling biowaste solids produced by sewage treatmentplants.

The material handling system may include one or more liquid capturesystem configured to at least capture and retain liquid expelled by theorganic material. A liquid capture system can be located generally belowone or more modules of the material handling system and be configured tocatch and redirect liquid that is released by or expelled from theorganic material. The liquid capture system can include drainageelements at locations within modules which capture liquid from organicmaterial being transported by such modules. The liquid capture systemcan include capture and drainage elements at locations around moduleswhich capture liquid which overflows or spills from the modules. Thedrainage elements can include collection pans or funnels, coupled to aconduit such as a pipe or channel. The liquid capture system can bepartially or fully configured to move liquid via the force of gravitytoward a holding tank. Additionally or alternatively, one or more pumpscan be used to move the liquid.

In embodiments, the liquid capture system may include one or more returnpans, as described elsewhere herein. The liquid capture system mayinclude one or more holding tanks for receiving the liquid expelled fromthe organic material. A holding tank may include a nozzle which may beused to prevent flow of liquid for some time and enable the flow ofliquid when needed. The liquid may be drained into and/or from thestorage tank as soon as it accumulates. The liquid capture system mayinclude more than one storage tank connected in series, in parallel, ora combination thereof. Storage tank may be in communication withrespective module of the material handling system from which it collectsthe liquid, or may be external to the material handling system,receiving the liquid via pipes or tubes, as will be readily understoodby a person skilled in the art. The liquid may be, for example, routedor transported to a safe disposal location, used in fertilizingapplications (e.g. compost tea). The liquid capture system may includeone or more filters to screen the liquid to minimize clogging of variouscomponents of the liquid capture system. A filter may be easilyremovable for cleaning, replacement, or maintenance. The liquid capturesystem may include one or more pumps to pump the liquid between variouscomponents of the liquid capture system. The liquid capture system mayinclude one or more sensors, for example to determine system blockage orto determine the amount of liquid in a holding tank. Sensors may be incommunication with the control system. The control system may monitorand/or control the operation of the liquid capture system. The controlsystem may dispatch a vehicle to empty the liquid holding tank when theliquid level reaches a predetermined amount, for example.

As will be understood in view of the above, embodiments of the presentinvention provide for a modular system of conveyors and at least onestorage module to receive, accumulate, store, and discharge organicmaterial. In various embodiments, the organic material is at no point incontact with the ground. The system may be designed to prevent theunintentional escape of liquid from the organic material. A modularcomponent (processing module) for processing the organic material mayalso be included. The organic material may be allowed to expand anddecompress prior to entering the storage module, for example using one,two or more passive processing operations. This passive processing mayinclude the transfer of organic material from one conveyor to anothervia a drop and a change in horizontal direction that is greater than 20degrees. In some embodiments, all modules requiring power are poweredelectrically. The receiving module's conveyor may be designed toaccommodate the width of a trailer and may be at least 8 feet wide. Thereceiving module may include one, two or more levelling bars at least inpart to limit the height of organic material prior to transferring to anext module. Multiple materials of various properties may be handled andstored together. In some embodiments, material can be input at multiplepoints in the system. Ventilation and/or air filtration may be providedon at least one of the modules to reduce escaping odours. A methodutilizing conveyors and at least one storage module may be provided toreceive, accumulate, store, and discharge organic material. The methodmay include actions as described elsewhere herein with respect to thevarious modules and their components.

Although the present invention has been described with reference tospecific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that variousmodifications and combinations can be made thereto without departingfrom the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, tobe regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as defined by theappended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and allmodifications, variations, combinations or equivalents that fall withinthe scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic material storage module comprising: ahollow enclosure having an inlet for receiving organic material and anoutlet for discharging organic material; a removal component disposedwithin the hollow enclosure and configured to move organic materialwithin the enclosure toward the outlet; and a leveling componentdisposed within the hollow enclosure above the removal component andcomprising one or more movable components configured to laterally pushorganic material which is stacked to a height of said movablecomponents, for distribution of said organic material within the hollowenclosure.
 2. The organic material storage module of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more sensors configured to determine total weight orvolume of organic material stored within the hollow enclosure.
 3. Theorganic material storage module of claim 2, wherein at least one of theone or more sensors is configured to determine characteristics of aspatial distribution of organic material stored within the hollowenclosure.
 4. The organic material storage module of claim 1, furthercomprising a bottom containment system configured to inhibit the organicmaterial from contacting ground.
 5. The organic material storage moduleof claim 4, wherein the removal component is a continuous loop conveyor.6. The organic material storage module of claim 5, wherein the bottomcontainment system comprises a capture surface located below the removalcomponent, the capture surface configured to catch organic material thatfails to be transferred to the outlet, the removal component configuredto pull said organic material that fails to be transferred to the outlettoward an end of the organic material storage module opposite the outletand to reintroduce said organic material that fails to be transferred tothe outlet into the hollow enclosure.
 7. The organic material storagemodule of claim 6, further comprising a return pan located at the end ofthe organic material storage module opposite the outlet, the return pancomprising: a first piece having a first end which overlaps with and islocated under the capture surface, the first piece further having acurved section which curves around an end of the removal component toguide organic material upward back toward the hollow enclosure; and asecond piece which overlaps overtop of a floor of the hollow enclosureand extends toward the curved section to capture said organic materialguided upward back toward the hollow enclosure, the first piece and thesecond piece being movable with and end of the removal component whichis located at said end of the organic material storage module oppositethe outlet.
 8. The organic material storage module of claim 2, furthercomprising a control system configured to operate the removal component,the leveling component, or both, based at least in part on output of theone or more sensors.
 9. The organic material storage module of claim 2,wherein the sensors comprise one or more of: one or more load cellsconfigured to measure total weight of organic material within the hollowenclosure; two or more load cells configured to measure total weight oforganic material within the hollow enclosure; and one or more sensorsconfigured to measure total weight of organic material within the hollowenclosure and total volume of organic material within the hollowenclosure.
 10. The organic material storage module of claim 1, whereinone or both of the removal component and the leveling component compriserespective chain conveyors.
 11. The organic material storage module ofclaim 1, wherein the inlet is located in a top of the hollow enclosureproximate to a first end of the hollow enclosure, and the outlet islocated proximate to a bottom of the hollow enclosure at a second end ofthe hollow enclosure, the second end opposite the first end.
 12. Theorganic material storage module of claim 4, wherein the bottomcontainment system comprises one or more liquid collection systemsconfigured to receive liquid expelled from the organic material anddirect said liquid toward a collection point.
 13. The organic materialstorage module of claim 1, wherein a roof of the hollow enclosure isrounded.
 14. The organic material storage module of claim 13, whereinthe roof is at least partially covered by a flexible cover.
 15. Theorganic material storage module of claim 1, further comprising an aircirculator to move air into or out of the storage module.
 16. Theorganic material storage module of claim 1, wherein the removalcomponent and the levelling component are powered by electric motors.17. The organic material storage module of claim 1, wherein the removalcomponent and the levelling component are powered by electric motors arelocated externally to the hollow enclosure.
 18. A method comprising:receiving, at an inlet of a hollow enclosure, organic material;discharging, at an outlet of the hollow enclosure, said organicmaterial; by a removal component disposed within the hollow enclosure,moving organic material within the enclosure toward the outlet; and by aleveling component disposed within the hollow enclosure above theremoval component, laterally pushing organic material which is stackedto a height of said movable components, for distribution of said organicmaterial within the hollow enclosure.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising, using one or more sensors, determining total weightor volume of organic material stored within the hollow enclosure.